Speculation: Armchair GM 2024-25 Season, Craig Conroy's Can Do Calgary Flames

[Sparky93]

At best? We acquired Lindholm at essentially the same age and he had a career high of 45 points before that. Monahan hit 60 points 3 times sure but he was also riding shotgun to Johnny, he was never the play driver on that line.

I think with Cozens we are looking at a player much more in line with Mark Scheifele or Roope Hintz

It's really hard to say, at that age. Ryan Johansen perhaps?

 

[Sonk]

I remember when McKinnon was an enigma too after his first few years. Good player, nothing special. Then the team improved and he skyrocketed.

People were at one point saying he was a bust

I get the sentiment, but the comparison isn’t accurate. MacKinnon was billed as “the next Crosby” as a prospect and a generational pick. Not to mention he was trending relatively steady or slightly up in per game production (aside from his rookie year), whereas Cozens has been trending mainly downward. A Lindholm comparison seems more apt based on talent, draft position, pedigree, etc.

Mackinnon’s drive and competitiveness is also incredibly well documented. He’s on another level.

I’d be alright pursuing Cozens, but it would be as a high-end 2C option rather than a fixture at 1C.